Swarna Bandhana Jeeranodharana Mahakumbha-Abhishekam of Shri Karunya Mahaganapati Temple, in New Delhi, on 28^th and 29^th June 2012

On Thursday, 28th June 2012, 6:30 PM started the big Third Kala Yajnashala Puja in the Karunya Mahaganapati Temple, New Delhi.

Shortly before the function Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati and Kumari Somashekhari from Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Rishikesh, arrived on the invitation of Mr. Ramanathan Krishnamurthy, Ex-Chairman & Managing Director, Power Finance Corporation Ltd. and former Member CERC (Central Electricity Regulatory Commission), who is now the Vice-President of the Temple Managing Committee, Shri Ganesh Sewa Samaj. A wonderful fruit basket, which had been ordered by Swami Vishveshwarananda and Somashekhari for the offering, was brought in by Mr. P.C. Malhotra and his friends.

The holy procession with Lord Ganesha before the arrival in front of the Temple.

Kumari Somashekhari is greeting the mighty elephant.

The great moment came when, with the procession, a mighty elephant was brought in front of the Temple. The elephant was extremely beautifully decorated with all kinds of nice paintings and ornaments. This big Ganesha was surrounded by Devotees and the Priests, who conducted Pujas and Arati for him.

Suddenly the elephant raised his trunk towards Kumari Somashekhari, who was standing nearby, as if he wanted to greet her. Somashekhari responded by putting her hand on his trunk.

Pujas and Aratis were also conducted by the Chief Priest from the South and his team with a white horse and a cow along with a baby.

The specially decorated Ganesha looks very impressive.	Puja and Arati performed by Chief Priest to Ganesha.

Kumari Somashekhari enjoys the presence of this wonderful Ganesha.	Puja and Arati to a white horse.

Puja and Arati for the holy cow.

Lady devotees preparing fresh lotus flowers for the prayers.

Upstairs, on the side of the Temple, on a roof top, which was covered by a big tent, Lord Karunya Mahaganapati, fully decorated, was installed along with Parivara Deities. 11 Hawana-Kundas in different forms had been erected for the coming Pujas and Homas.

Most of the Priests, who conducted this mega event, were from Tamil Nadu, many of them from Pondicherry and some of them were Priests, who usually are working in very famous and very big Temples in Tamil Nadu like Tiruvannaamalai, Chennai and Madurai. Their way of conducting Yajnas, performing Pujas and celebrating the entire Rituals, was undoubtedly of a higher class.

Prayers performed at all the 11 Hawana-Kundas.

The lady audience, mostly people from South India, probably living in Delhi, came to the Temple, and were sitting in the Temple Hall, in a circle around many Deepas and fresh Lotus and other flowers and started reciting together Lalita Sahasranama. One could feel a deep sincerity and dedication by these noble ladies.

Lady devotees reciting Lalita-Sahasranama, keeping in the middle holy Deepas.	The Chief Priest is blessing an elderly couple.

After the prayers the great Kala Yajnashala Puja started. It was a sparkling atmosphere, when the holy fires in all the Hawana-Kundas were burning. The Priests made their offerings with constant chanting of the Mystical Syllables. Added to the already tremendous summer heat of New Delhi, another heat came, since the place was covered by a tent.

From time to time, respectively after particular rituals, four musicians played the Nadaswaram and drums, which made everything more and more powerful.

A fruit basket was offered to the authorities of the Temple.	Mr. Krishnamurthy introduces Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari and Mr. P.C. Malhotra.

Before Purnahuti Mr. R. Krishnamurthy, during a small break, spoke about Omkarananda Ashram, introducing Swami Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari, and informed all about the work done by Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati in form of education on a grand scale. He also highlighted to the audience the beauty of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Temple, which is also built in a typical South Indian style. He praised Swami Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari for their dedication in the spiritual field of the Vedic Tradition. Mr. P.C. Malhotra from Delhi spoke of his own experience since his association with Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas. He expressed his admiration for Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji's exceptional devotion to his Guru Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, and he called Swamiji "the real Hanuman of Omkarananda".

	Above: Kumari Somashekhari, after speaking to the audience, is singing a beautiful holy Tamil song. Left: Swami Vishveshwarananda speaks to all the devotees and praises the Temple authorities.

The Chief Priest has honoured Swami Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari with special flowers from the Puja.

Afterwards, in a very beautiful and sparkling speech, Swami Vishveshwarananda praised the great conduct by the Priests and spoke about the benefit, which people can get by participating in such divine functions.

After a brief talk in Tamil, Kumari Somashekhari sang an old, famous, beautiful Tamil song from M.S. Subbulakshmi, which took the audience by surprise.

	Above: Shankaracharya Swami Sachidananda Teertha with Shri Krishnamurthy, Swami Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari.         Left: Swami Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari with organizers in front of Karunya Mahaganapati Temple in Delhi.

Yajnas and prayers in the specially erected tent.

The holy water in the Kalashas is being carried up on the Temple roof for the Mahakumbha-Abhishekam.

On the next day, on 29th June 2012, came the great finale. In the morning at 6 AM the fourth Kala Yajnashala Puja was started, which concluded with Maha-Purnahuti and Maha Deeparadhana. After 9 AM was the auspicious time for the most important part, which took place on the Temple roof, respectively the Temple Gopurams, the Swarna Bandhana Jeeranodharana Maha Kumbha-Abhishekam with Rajagopura Maha Kumbhabhishekam, Shri Karunya Mahaganapati and Parivara Deities Vimana Maha Kumbhabhishekam. A big crowd from everywhere, even on the road, were watching the sacred ritual.

The Chief Priest is offering holy water on the Gopuram.

In the same way every Gopuram of different small shrines inside the Temple Mandapa, with the particular Deities, was blessed with the holy water and constant prayers by the Priests.

Prayers in front of Lord Shiva in form of "Vaidyanath", the divine Chief-Doctor, by Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari and Devotees.	Mr. Krishnamurthy shows to Swami Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari the Navagrahas.

In the packed full Temple Hall the Chief Priest is offering the holy water to the Navagrahas with his assistants.

In the end everybody assembled in the big Satsang Hall of the Temple, waiting for the visit of the honourable Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs. Sheila Dikshit.

Before her arrival, Swami Sachidananda Teertha from Shri-Chakra-Maha-Meru Peetham, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, spoke to the devotees about the Kumbhabhisheka and its importance.

Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President, Omkarananda Ashram, was also requested to say a few words to the audience on this occasion. In his thrilling and lively speech Swami Vishveshwarananda again thanked the Priests for their good work and he advised the Devotees to always participate in such noble and divine functions. He further emphasized that those beautiful vibrations, which they got from this function, they should keep in their hearts even in their daily lives.

	Swami Vishveshwarananda is offering the Vidya Prabodhini of Omkarananda Ashram to the Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit, through MLA, Shri Anil Kumar.
Swami Vishveshwarananda speaks to the audience in the Temple Satsang Hall about the importance of these holy functions.	Sheila Dikshit is going through the Vidya Prabodhini.

Exchange of heartfelt greetings between the Chief Minister of Delhi and Kumari Somashekhari, while Swami Vishveshwarananda looks on and smiles.	Kumari Somashekhari interacts with the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit.

The Chief Minister releases the souvenir of the Temple.

Kumari Somashekhari is being honoured with a shawl by a Member of the Committee.	Sheila Dikshit takes the final blessings by the Chief Priests from the South.

After some time the honourable Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit, arrived with the local MLA, Shri Anil Kumar. She spoke in praise of the Temple Committee, the Priests, the Temple Architect and all those, who actively participated to make the event a success. She then released the Souvenir along with Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, Swami Sachidananda Teertha and a few other dignitaries.

Swamiji, on behalf of Swami Dayananda, is delivering the concluding lecture.

Finally a Sannyasi disciple and representative of Shri Swami Dayananda Saraswati concluded the function, while speaking about religious living.

Afterwards everybody was requested to take Prasadam.